Close your eyes, imagine yourself at the helm, captaining your ship. Wind blowing your hair, sun warming your face with the course set for the horizon! For once, I’m not speaking hypothetically, I’m talking about real boats! What’d your boat look like? A sailboat, a motorboat? A yacht with champagne?

Boating whisks us away, instantly freeing us from our land-dwelling ways, promising adventure, relaxation, nature, and romance. This form of travel rebuffs the usual constraint of staying within the lines and muffles the visual and auditory clutter of our neighborhoods. The tension melts away with each wave. Realizing how small we are resting on the water’s surface resets our center.

I’m blessed with a marina view from my office. Every now and then we’ll see the tall masts of some super-huge luxury vessel, wonder who owns it and wish we could see it up close.

Now is our chance! The west coast’s premier boating event, the 2016 Progressive Insurance Los Angeles Boat Showcruises to town in a few weeks! Whether you are looking to upgrade or just get your feet wet, it will offer hundreds of boats for sale: entry-level family cruisers, pontoons, wakesport boats, personal watercraft, inflatables, sailboats, catamarans, cruisers, to million-dollar yachts! Plus, GEAR – it’s all about the gear!

I’m so excited that Progressive offered me tickets to the show. I LOVE shows like this so I can submerse myself in all things nautical!

This show lasts four days (February 25-28), in two locations: The Los Angeles Convention Center and Burton W. Chace Park in Marina del Rey! The Marina will be a sailor’s delight with on-water lessons, sailing seminars and simulators! There will be tons of Boat Smart activities and a high-energy kids zone where kids build their own sailing fantasy! Personally, I can’t wait to check out the Float-In Theatre!

Buy tickets now: $15 for adults; Youth 15 and younger, with an adult, and active military are FREE. Save time, purchase tickets in advance at losangelesboatshow.com (Day-of-event tix sold at the box office).

Congratulations to our winner Christina Faulkner! She receives 4 tickets good for any day of the show, good for both show locations. Hope you enjoy your boating adventure! Thank you for wandering by!

Check back every day (until the show starts) to see new boating songs you’ll be humming!SAILING Christopher CrossIF I HAD A BOAT Lyle Lovett